Long Stories for Kids

The gold fish a long stories for kids | Long Stories in English

Russian folk tale adaptation

Once upon a time there was a very poor elderly couple who lived by the beach in a humble cabin. The man was a fisherman, so he and his wife fed mainly on the fish that fell into their nets.



One day, the fisherman threw the net into the water and only caught a small fish. He was amazed when he saw that it was a gold fish that was also able to speak.

– Fisherman, please set me free! If you do, I’ll give you anything you ask of me.

The old man knew that if he released him he would lose the opportunity to sell him and make good money, but he felt so sorry for him that he unraveled the net and threw him back into the sea.

– Come back to the life that corresponds to you, little fish. You deserve to be free!

When he returned to the cabin his wife was very angry when she found that he had come up empty, but her anger grew even more when the fisherman told her that he had actually caught a gold fish and set it free.



– I can’t believe what you’re telling me… Do you know what a gold fish is worth? They would have given us a fortune for it! You could have at least asked him for something in return, even if it was a little bread to eat.

The good man remembered that the fish had told him that he could grant his wishes, and in the face of his wife’s continuous complaints, he decided to return to shore.

– Goldfish, look out I need your help!

The little golden head emerged from the waters and stared at the old man.

– What can I do for you, friend?

– My wife wants bread to eat because today we have nothing to put in our mouths. Could you get me some?

– Of course! Go back to your wife and you’ll have more than enough bread for several days.

The old man arrived home to find the kitchen full of crusty, steaming bread everywhere. Against all odds, his wife was not happy at all.



– You already have the bread you asked for… Why are you so sulky?

– Yes, we already have bread, but we cannot continue living in this cabin. There are leaks everywhere and the cold seeps through the cracks. Tell that goldfish friend of yours to get us a more decent house. It’s the least he can do for you since you saved his life!

Once again, the man walked to the edge of the sea.

– Goldfish, look out I need your help!

– What can I do for you, friend?

– My wife is upset because our cabin is falling apart. You want a new house more comfortable and comfortable.

– Don’t worry, I’ll make that wish come true.

– Many thanks.

He turned around leaving the fish bobbing in the waves. When they got home, the cabin was gone. Its place was occupied by a charming little stone house that even had a small garden to grow vegetables.

His wife was combing her hair in the main room.

– I imagine you’ll be happy now! This new house is cute and bigger than the one we had!

– Happy? Not kidding! You have not known how to take advantage of the situation. Since you ask, ask big! Come back right now and tell the goldfish that I want a luxurious house with all the comforts a lady my age deserves.



– But…

– Oh, and no orchards, I’m not going to work in the rest of my life! Tell him I prefer a nice garden for long walks in the spring!

The man was fed up and it seemed absurd to ask for things they didn’t need, but not hearing his wife’s cries, he obeyed and went back to the seashore.

– Goldfish, look out I need your help!

– What can I do for you, friend?

– I’m sorry to be so annoying but my wife dreams of a house and a more luxurious life.

– Dude, don’t worry. Today you’ll have a great house and everything you need to live in it. I’ll even give you housekeeping so you don’t even have to cook!

– Thank you very much, fish friend. That more than we ever dreamed of.

His eyes almost popped out of their sockets when he arrived at his house and found a mansion surrounded by gardens full of exotic plants and beautiful water sources.

– My goodness… what a barbarity! This is worthy of a king and not a poor fisherman like me.

He entered and found the interior lavish: mahogany furniture, fine Chinese vases, velvet curtains, silverware… Everything was so dazzling that he didn’t even know where to look!

He thought he had seen it all when his wife appeared dressed in a pink tulle gown, jeweled from top to bottom. She did not come alone but followed by three maids and three footmen.

– This is incredible! I had never seen such a big and beautiful house! And you, my dear, you are impressively beautiful and elegant!… I imagine that now you will be satisfied… We even have servants!

With the air of an empress, the old woman answered:

– No, it’s not enough! Haven’t you yet realized how important it would be to catch that fish and always have it at our disposal? We could ask for whatever we wanted at any time of the day or night. We would have everything at our fingertips!

The woman’s ambition knew no bounds! Before the poor fisherman could say anything, he brought up the plan he had devised to get hold of the little gold fish.

– Catching it is difficult, so it is best to go easy. Go to the sea and tell the gold fish that I want to be the queen of the sea.

– You… queen of the sea? So that?

– You don’t know anything, chump! All beings that live in the sea must obey their queen without question. I, as queen, would force him to live here.

– But I can’t ask you for that!

– Of course you can, so go to the beach right now! Either you get the position of queen of the sea for me or you don’t enter this house again. Is that clear to you?

He slammed the door so much that the husband, frightened, ran out and reached the shore once more. With much embarrassment he called the fish.

– Goldfish, look out I need your help!

– What can I do for you, friend?

– My wife insists on asking. Now she wants to be the queen of the sea to order you to live in our house and work for her!

The fish was silent. That woman had gone too far! Not only was he abusing him but he was also playing him for a fool. He looked sadly at the old man and jumped into the depths of the sea.

– Goldfish, I want to talk to you Come to the surface, please!

Unfortunately the fish had lost patience and did not appear again.

The man returned home and was devastated when he saw that everything was gone. There were no more fountains, no gardens, no mansion or servants. In front of him was once again the poor and lonely wooden cabin in which they had always lived. Nor was his wife any longer a refined lady wrapped in tulle, but the wife of a humble fisherman, dressed in a patchwork skirt and rope slippers.

Goodbye to the dream of having it all! Much to their regret, the two had to continue with their life of work and without any kind of luxuries. They never heard from that grateful and generous little fish who had given them so much. Unlimited ambition had its punishment.

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